South Korea's military shrinks 20% amid low birthrate
2 Min Read
South Korea’s military shrinks 20% in six years as record-low birthrate and aging population deepen manpower shortages.
-
South Korean Marines run out from amphibious assault vehicles after landing on the beach during the combined military amphibious landing exercise between South Korea and the US, called the Ssangyong exercise, in Pohang, South Korea, Monday, Sept. 2, 2024 (AP)
South Korea's military has experienced a 20% reduction in size over the past six years, primarily driven by a significant decline in the population of men eligible for mandatory enlistment, as the country faces the world's lowest birthrate, according to a report cited by The Guardian.
The Defense Ministry stated in the report that the steep drop in the number of men eligible for military service is also leading to a shortage of officers and may create operational challenges.
South Korea's military, which had approximately 690,000 soldiers in the early 2000s, has seen a steady reduction in size since then, with the rate of decline increasing notably in the late 2010s, leading to a current troop strength of around 450,000.
20-year-old category down 30%
According to government data, the population of 20-year-old men in South Korea, the age when most physically qualified individuals begin their mandatory military service, has decreased by 30 percent from 2019 to 2025, reaching 230,000.
South Korea, which ranks as one of the world's fastest aging societies, currently holds the lowest global fertility rate at 0.75 in 2024, representing the average number of children a woman would bear in her lifetime.
According to a government projection, South Korea's population, which reached its peak of 51.8 million in 2020, is projected to decline to 36.2 million by 2072.
South Korea's armed forces have pointed to enhanced military capabilities, enabled by its security alliance with the United States and the growth of its domestic defense industry into a major arms exporter, as the primary justification for reducing mandatory service periods.
According to the Ministry, South Korea's military currently faces a personnel deficit of 50,000 troops below the level required to maintain proper defense readiness, with approximately 21,000 of this shortfall occurring in the non-commissioned officer ranks.
